Batting

GENESEO, N.Y. - SUNY Geneseo senior outfielder Claire VanNewkirk launched a two-run home run in game one and junior outfielder Alyssa Persich ripped four hits in game two as the Knights swept State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) foe Buffalo State, 5-3 and 7-0, on Friday afternoon at Raschi Field.

GAME ONE

The Knights jumped out to an early 3-0 lead when junior outfielder Danni Napoli brought home junior infielder Kylie Papagelos with an RBI double and VanNewkirk followed two batters later with a two-run shot over the center-field fence. Sophomore infielder Maddison Tucker added an RBI single to put the Knights ahead 4-0 after the first.

In the third, Buffalo State tallied three runs on three hits to draw back within a run, but junior pitcher Taylor Moore shut down the threat, ending the inning with a strikeout.

Sophomore catcher Hannah Elmer drove in an important insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning, with a pinch-hit RBI single to right field, increasing the Geneseo lead to 5-3.

Moore went 6.1 innings, scattering 11 hits, but gave way to junior pitcher Jasmine Petrishin, who recorded the final two outs to earn her first career save.

GAME TWO

Persich opened the bottom of the first with a triple and scored on a Papagelos groundout to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.

Geneseo added a run in the second when Petrishin ripped an RBI single up the middle. Napoli, VanNewkirk and junior catcher Taylor Fedor each added RBI doubles in the third to make it 5-0.

The Knights tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning to increase the lead as sophomore pitcher Ashlyn Kersch entered the game in relief to shut down the Bengals' bats as she combined with Petrishin to earn the shutout.

QUICK FACTS

Moore earned her seventh win of the season and 25th win of her career in game one. Petrishin earned a save in game one and received the win in game two, pitching 4.1 innings of shutout ball.

First-year infielder Nicole Fyvie recorded her first-career RBI on a fielder's choice in the sixth inning of game two.

VanNewkirk's home run marked the ninth of her career, good for 14th in Geneseo program history.

In game two, Persich nearly hit for the cycle. In need of a home run to complete the cycle, Persich doubled off the right-field fence in her fourth and final at-bat

Seniors Claire VanNewkirk and Tori Fahie were honored in a brief pre-game ceremony. In four years with the Knights, the pair have been a part of 90 wins and two SUNYAC Tournament appearances.

The Knights celebrated Little League Day, inviting local youth softball programs to a post-game meet and greet session with the student-athletes.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Geneseo will return to action on Tuesday, April 17 when they host SUNYAC foe New Paltz in a doubleheader with game one scheduled for 3:00 p.m.